"I just want my pads to do the talking, show people what I can do," Caper said. "I mean people know what I can do, but I want to be able to go out there and just show it."

The once-heralded running back from Battle Creek is down to one final season to do so, his career thus far undistinguished, due mostly to injuries and the emergence of Edwin Baker and then Le'Veon Bell.

This appears to be Caper's best chance — a legitimate chance — to make an impact since rushing for a team-high 468 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman in 2009.

At the very least, if he remains healthy, Caper appears in line to be the No. 2 behind Bell. Based on the last few years of Spartan offense, that means between 85 and 170 carries, even as a backup.

"It's my senior year, it's my last time playing pretty much guaranteed football," said the 5-foot-11, 220-pound Caper, who has designs on an NFL career.

"I think he's been very tuned in," said Michigan State running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Brad Salem. "And you look at his focus, just how he came in the first day of pads on Friday. Anytime a guy goes into his senior year, he understands the sense of urgency, but it's not that he didn't have it before, either. Just maybe it's more realistic to him internally."

Caper's urgency shouldn't be mistaken as lingering frustration, despite an injury-filled career to this point that's left him with modest numbers — 728 yards in three seasons — after a not-so modest billing coming out of Battle Creek Central High School.

He missed most or all of four games last season with injuries, including a concussion and a hyperextended knee.

A hand injury early in 2010 helped Baker and Bell pass him on the depth chart.

"I've had a lot of injuries. But I mean it is what it is, it happens to football players," said Caper, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. "That's not going to get me down. I know what I can do. The coaches know what I can do.

"I don't have any regrets. Everything that's happened thus far has made me who I am today."

Caper, who doesn't turn 21 until September, said he's finally healthy and running with ease again.

"When you're healthy, you feel 10 pounds lighter, you feel better about yourself," Caper said. "You're not running as hard, you're just out there having fun."